Our Achievers

Two years ago, when Bradley first came to the ASD Adult Achievement Center, he wanted to contribute to something beyond himself. He wanted a job. He never had a job before, and wasn’t sure where to start. As anyone who has been on the job hunt knows, it can be overwhelming. Where do you look for a job? What do you write on your resume? How do you ace the interview questions?

If you ask Patrick how he envisions his future, the sky is the limit. He sees himself graduating college and acting. He also sees himself continuing to teach children’s church, mentoring, and working. Patrick is always looking forward and is up to something new.

When you meet Rick, the first thing you'll notice about him is his upbeat and positive attitude. Rick recently accepted a dream job offer as a Tax Staff Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. We are so excited for him, and couldn't help but recognize all his achievements over the last year.

When Rick first came to the ASD Achievement Center to work with Paula, he resisted. He admits, those first few visits were because his parents encouraged him to go. As he continued to attend, his mindset changed. "I started coming to the Center for myself and even after my parents said I didn't need to," said Rick. As Rick explains, Paula's programs targeted all the things he needed help with and she was a "trusted adult who understood his point of view."

When he came to the ASD Achievement Center, Rick struggled with organization and structure. He and Paula focused mainly on how to create structure in his life that would help him achieve his goals. One of which was getting a staff accountant position. Paula was able to work with him and provide tools like using calendars to help him schedule and manage his day-to-day activities.

Going through the PEERS® program and becoming a Program Assistant gave him the opportunity to practice social skills in an understanding environment with other young adults on the spectrum. Rick says, "even if you don't think you need it, it's always good to get a refresh."

As Rick's first day at the new job gets closer, he knows that his experiences at the ASD Achievement Center will be a helpful as he grows in his new position. We know Rick's achievements won't stop there, and we are so excited to see what happens next!

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